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Monday, June 6, 2016

Tim Hunter named assistant coach for 2017 World Juniors

Moose Jaw Warriors Head Coach Tim Hunter has been named an Assistant Coach for Team Canada for the 2017 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships.

“This is a special day for Tim, his family, the Warriors, and the community,” commented Warriors General Manager Alan Millar. “This is a great accomplishment and another step in Tim’s coaching career. We’re thrilled that he’s representing Canada on our National Junior Team’s coaching staff while representing the Warriors and the City of Moose Jaw.”

Hunter is entering his third season as Head Coach of the Warriors, last season he led the team to a regular season record of 36-27-7-2 and a berth in the second round of the 2016 WHL Playoffs, marking the team’s first trip to the second round since 2012. In two years with the Warriors he has an overall record of record of 68-62-11-3.

This marks the second time that Hunter will be on the bench for Hockey Canada, in 2015 he was the Head Coach of Canada’s Under-18 team that captured a bronze medal at the IIHF World Under-18 Championships in Switzerland.

Hunter’s coaching career began in the NHL as an Assistant Coach with the Washington Capitals from 1997 to 2002. In December 2002 he joined the San Jose Sharks as their Assistant Coach and remained with the organization until 2008. He then joined the Toronto Maple Leafs as their Assistant Coach from 2008 to 2011. Hunter spent the 2011-2012 season as the Head Coach at the Okanagan Hockey Academy. In 2012-2013 he returned to the National Hockey League with the Washington Capitals as an Assistant Coach.

As an Assistant Coach in the NHL, Hunter has been on the bench for 1089 games, 526 of them wins. He has been on coaching staffs that have captured three Southeast Division Championships, two Pacific Division Championships, and he has one appearance as an Assistant Coach in the Stanley Cup Final.

He played professionally for 18 years, he suited up in 815 games in the NHL, scoring 62 goals and finishing with 138 points and 3146 penalty minutes. He had five goals, 12 points, and 426 penalty minutes in 132 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.

He spent 14 years in the Calgary Flames organization winning two President Trophies, two Smyth Division Championships, two Campbell Conference Championships, and he appeared in two Stanley Cup Finals. He was one of three Co-Captains of the Calgary Flames 1989 Stanley Cup Championship team.

After spending eleven years playing for the Flames, Hunter’s career continued with the Quebec Nordiques, Vancouver Canucks, and San Jose Sharks. While with the Canucks, he helped the team to a Smyth Division Championship, Campbell Conference Championship, and a berth in the 1994 Stanley Cup Final.

The 2017 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships will be held in Montreal and Toronto, Canada has exhibition games against Finland (December 19) and Switzerland (December 23), they open the preliminary round Boxing Day against Russia.